Cambridge IGCSE · Physics (0625)

The Earth and the Solar System: Practice Questions

5 multiple-choice questions marked as you go, and 5 written questions with worked solutions. All on The Earth and the Solar System.

10 questions22 marksFree, no account

Question 1

1 mark

In the Solar System, planets are categorized based on their physical properties and distance from the Sun. Which of the following planets is characterized as being small and rocky?

Question 2

1 mark

A student observes a diagram showing the Earth at different positions in its orbit around the Sun. The Earth's axis is tilted. Which phenomenon is primarily caused by this tilt as the Earth completes its annual orbit?

Question 3

1 mark

Data for two planets are given below:
Planet A: Mass = \(M\), Radius = \(R\)
Planet B: Mass = \(2M\), Radius = \(2R\)
How does the uniform gravitational field strength \(g\) at the surface of Planet B compare to that of Planet A?

Question 4

1 mark

The planets in our Solar System are arranged in a specific order based on their distance from the Sun. Which of the following correctly identifies the fifth planet from the Sun?

Question 5

1 mark

An observer on Earth notices that the Sun appears to follow a periodic path across the sky every 24 hours. Which physical phenomenon explains this observation?

Question 6

2 marks

Define the term light-year and state its approximate value in meters.

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Question 7

3 marks

Explain the relationship between a planet's mass and its surface gravitational field strength, and state how the field strength changes with distance from the planet.

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Question 8

5 marks

Explain why the orbital duration of planets increases as their orbital distance from the Sun increases, making reference to the Sun's gravitational field.

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Question 9

3 marks

(a) Name the eight planets of the Solar System in the correct order of increasing distance from the Sun. (1)
(b) Identify which planet in the Solar System possesses the largest mass. (1)
(c) State the name of the planet that, on average, is closest to the Earth. (1)

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Question 10

4 marks

(a) The planet Venus orbits the Sun at an average distance of \(1.08 \times 10^{11} \text{ m}\) and has an orbital period of approximately \(1.94 \times 10^7 \text{ s}\). Calculate the average orbital speed of Venus in \(\text{m/s}\). (2)
(b) Comets move in highly elliptical orbits. Explain, using the principle of conservation of energy, why a comet travels at its highest speed when it is at its closest point to the Sun. (2)

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